NavLAB Omni-Directional Camera

The CMU Robotics InstituteNavLab has
published a paper
on the use of an omni-direction camera for environment recognition in
urban environments. The goal is to build a side collision
warning system for transit vehicles. The sensor must sort out the
urban environment and determine which objects represent a collision threat
to the moving vehicle. The research would also be applicable to
autonomous robots moving in an urban environment.